From Dieppe to Juno: 80th anniversary of the Dieppe raid

This exhibition presents the deep imprint of the Dieppe Raid in the Canadian collective memory of the Second World War. This is an exhibition about the trauma, but also about the healing and the many consequences of the raid since the fateful day in August 1942. It also explains why Dieppe still occupies a particularly important place in our understanding of Canada’s experience during the Second World War.The story of the Dieppe Raid, considered a tragic failure since 1942, is as complex as it is nuanced. The event has been the subject of extensive study over the decades by historians and continues to be debated among scholars and history buffs.

For visitors new to the subject, From Dieppe to Juno is intended to be an accessible and factual presentation of the planning of the raid itself and its aftermath. For visitors who are more familiar with the history of Dieppe, the exhibition also addresses less often explored aspects of the Raid.

The Dieppe Raid remains one of the most significant events in the Canadian history of the Second World War, so much so that for many decades it occupied a greater place in the collective memory of Canadians than the D-Day landings in Normandy of 1944. It is only in recent years that the events of Juno Beach have caught up with those of Dieppe in Canadian memory.

This new exhibit attempts to better explain how and why conclusions have often been hastily drawn over the years. It grapples with the idea that the disaster saved lives on D-Day, and explores how the myth linking the horrors of Dieppe to the success of the Canadians on D-Day has evolved over time.

The legacy left by the Dieppe Raid extends beyond national and temporal borders. In telling this story, the Juno Beach Centre and the War Heritage Institute explore the impacts of this legacy through the experiences of witnesses from all walks of life.